Boy, 13, was shot seven times by Sonoma County deputy, report finds

Andy Lopez, 13, was carrying a pellet gun modeled to look like an assault rifle.

Andy Lopez, 13, was carrying a pellet gun modeled to look like an assault rifle. (Left: family photo; right: Sonoma County Sheriff's Department)

Robert J. Lopez

A 13-year-old boy killed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy while carrying a pellet gun that resembled an assault rifle was shot seven times, according to a preliminary coroner's report.

Two of the rounds that struck Andy Lopez were fatal. One hit his right hip and the other struck the right side of his chest, the report by the Sonoma County coroner's office found.

Other bullets hit Andy's right wrist, left biceps, right forearm, right buttocks and right hip, the report said. Three of the bullets were recovered in his body.

Investigators believe that a total of eight rounds were fired after deputies responded Tuesday afternoon to a report of a "suspicious person" in a southwest Santa Rosa neighborhood, law enforcement authorities said.

“The deputy's mind-set was that he was fearful that he was going to be shot,” Santa Rosa Police Lt. Paul Henry told reporters.

Andy, a Santa Rosa eighth-grader, was walking through the area at Moorland and West Robles avenues with the pellet gun when he was spotted about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday by two deputies on routine patrol, according to Santa Rosa police, who are investigating the shooting.

The teen had his back to the two deputies, Henry said.

The deputies stopped, took cover behind the doors of their patrol car and ordered him to drop the weapon, according to Henry.

Andy was 20 to 30 feet away, he said, adding that the deputies did not realize he was just a boy.

The deputy who opened fire believed the AK-47-styled pellet gun “was an authentic weapon,” according to Henry.

“He has quite a bit of experience with this kind of weapon," Henry said of the deputy. "He's aware of the kind of damage these kinds of weapons can do.”